(New York, N.Y.) – On Sunday, German federal prosecutors took over the investigation following Friday’s knife attack in Solingen, Germany, that killed three and injured eight others, with at least four suffering serious injury. After a day-long manhunt, the assailant, Syrian-born Issa Al H., turned himself into the police. Investigators suspect terrorism as the motive, claiming that Issa Al H. is a member of a terrorist organization abroad. The attacks took place during the town of Solingen’s festival celebrating its 650th anniversary.
On August 24, ISIS released a statement via their Amaq news outlet claiming responsibility for the attack and calling the suspect “a soldier” attacking “a gathering of Christians…[taking] revenge for the Muslims in Palestine and elsewhere.” Investigators have yet to confirm the degree of connection between the suspect and the terror group. However, media reports indicate that towards the end of the video a billboard is partially visible that resembles a billboard close to the scene of the attack in Solingen.
A photo of the perpetrator of the attack, where he appeared to be pledging his allegiance to ISIS, was released by the group’s news site Amaq on August 25. Online, ISIS supporters praised the attack on Telegram and RocketChat, commending the successful perpetration of an attack in Europe in particular. A Telegram channel stated that Germany should be targeted because it “is considered the second largest supporter of the Jews after the United States of America.”
Expert Analysis
CEP Senior Director Dr. Hans-Jakob Schindler:
“From what we know so far, this looks to be an attack inspired by ISIS—that is, with very little direction or preparation from the group itself, but claimed by them after the perpetrator pledged allegiance. ISIS has been directing its followers on the ground to carry out knife attacks like this—and even releasing instructional videos on how to make them more effective—because they require very little planning and are therefore difficult to detect and prevent.
This is in contrast to the kind of direct attempt we saw in Vienna earlier this month. Those attacks, which require more effort to plan and organize, are unfortunately also on the rise in Europe. Groups like ISIS and Al-Qaeda have more breathing room to plan them, now that the West has withdrawn militarily from all relevant states and regions from which these groups operate.”
CEP Resources:
To read CEP’s report on ISIS, please click here.
To read CEP’s country report on Germany, please click here.
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